Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-10
A WONDERFUL NUT,
| The Peculiar Qualities of the Kola Tree
And Its Fruit.

And Its Fruit.
Planters in tropical climes are recon-
mended to cultivate the kola tree, the nut
Of which seems to possess some marvellous
qualities. If the prophecies regarding the
benehcent services of certain preparations
of it are realized an unspeakable boon will
be conferred on millions of the human race.
For many years it has been extensively
used as an excellent beverage and sacred
symbol in the interior of Africa, but now
more extensively utilized. There is no
doubt "a writer in The Scotsman says, from
what is already known, that it has the ex
traordinary property of counteracting the
influence of alcohol, of giving stimulant
in wasting diseases, of acting as powerful
tonic in cases of deep-seated injuries of the
digestive organs, of purifying foul water,
of overcoming the sense of fatigue, and Of
exciting to arduous work with the least in
jury to the frame.
1t appears that the kola nuts were orig
inally found in the western territories of
Africa, and that soldiers stationed along
the coast were the first white men who be-
came aware of their peculiar property.
They found, for instance, that the chewing
of these nuts prevented drunken head
ache. Not only SO, but some who have
used the nut paste as pick-me-up" as
sert that, while removing the nausea, it
gives them quite skinner" at the smell
of whisky, and removes the irritating de-
sire for a morning" to keep the stomach
hearty. If the paste be mixed with cocoa
paste, which it resembles closely, it pro-
duces a much finer and more nutritive
chocolate. 1t has been shown by repeated
experiments that the nerve energy produced
by partaking of the chocolate made with
kola paste is ten times greater than that
produced by an equal quantity of ordinary
cocoa chocolate. So nutritious is this kola,
that with single cup of it laborer can
undergo a days work without any sense of
WEAKNESS. Though it may not directly
feed the muscular system, it has the prep
erty of preventing the rapid waste Of the
tissues So much have the manufacturers
of chocolate, both in this country and
abroad, become alive to the excellent
properties of the new paste, that they are
making arrangements to procure it for
mixing purposes as soon as its price be-
comes reasonable.
The British Government, too, has gone
the length of making experiments upon
the paste in pure state, so as to ascertain
the saving which would be made in the
transit of provisions in time of war, by
giving this beverage to the army. 1t is of
great service for purifying the foul water
which is so prevalent in hot climates; this
will be the preventive of many diseases,
especially to Europeans. 1t has also been
found very useful in clarifying beer and
spirits, acting much like the white of an
the composition of kola, tea, coffee and
cocoa shows that the proportion of caffeine
is higher in kola than in any of the others,
and it exceeds cocoa i'll the obromine.
Just as with tea among old ladies, the kola
maintains the health and strength of the
body in an equal degree upon a smaller
supply of ordinary food, and arrests the
waste, enabling the less energetic powers
Of digestion to supply as much as is needed
to repair the wear and tear of the solid
tissues. The obromine of cocoa resembles
the theme of tea and the caffeine of cocoa,
and contains even larger quantity OF
nitrogen. This element in the kola is also
very active, exercising an exhilarating
and soothing, hunger-stilling and waste
retarding effect upon the human system.
DR.. Nachtigal gives some interesting in
formation about the kola nut from personal
experience. He tried it for some time
himself, and in his book on the Soudan
bears testimony to the great power it has
over the system. The craving for it be,
comes more intense than that for either
tobacco or alcohol and he had great diff.
ficulty in giving up its use. In some places
the nut is so highly priced that for the dry
powder of the nut an equal weight of gold
dust is given in exchange. Kola, too
works wonderful social charm among the
Soudanese. An interchange of white kola
between two chiefs, is like the snufbox be
tween two Highlanders-th mark Of
friendship and peace; but red koia sent i;
indicative of defiance. When young chic
has made up his mind that he would like
to marry the princess of another tribe, he
sends to her mother a present of white
kola with anxiety he awaits in return the
arrival of the white kola, as a symbol thai
his suit has been accepted, or the red kola
as a hint that his suit has been gracefully
rejected. Marriage rejoicings would be
postponed or stopped If it was seen that the
white kola was wanting among the bride:
presents. The negro of western Africa
takes the oath with intensified solemnity
if he stretches out his hand over kola
ceehs